by Michele Catahay, KUAM NewsThursday, March 27, 2008 Subscribe to Michele's newsfeed
The unceremonious termination of Luis Reyes from the Guam Public School System might not be as simple as it sounds, as there are laws on the books providing protections for those hired as superintendent. The laws were put into place after the termination of former superintendent of public education Juan Flores, and Speaker Judi Won Pat (D), who chairs the Legislative Committee on Education, notes that the measure was introduced and enacted into law to ensure management stability.She explained, "One was to set up a process that if the super is given a notice that he would have three days in executive session to discuss possibility of termination or reverse the termination of whatever negotiations they could come up with. If they refuse to accept that and want to move forward with the termination, then the super will have seven days to call for a public hearing. It's a right given to him by law and he also has the right to call anybody in for his defense to give public testimony for some of the charges as basis for his termination, so that's by law."Reyes has been unavailable for comment.Meanwhile, according to Guam Education Policy Board chairman Joe San Agustin, they are prepared to defend any challenges to his termination.